Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[King'sPawn]

Sooooo Clarke in the AHL all year then eh

I genuinely think they want to have Clarke in the NHL all year. Yannetti said he was NHL ready last year.

Now Blake just has to listen to his scouts and staff... oh wait.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

From a cap point of view, it almost had to be Vilardi. Depends on his contract. How cheap of a bridge deal will he go for?

Then it's just a lateral move from a guy you've got a lot invested in to a guy who has talked his way out of everything since juniors.

The devil you know vs. the one you don't.

 

[Surf Nutz]

It was actually a much longer and nuanced discussion on the podcast. I'm pretty sure he spent a good 7-10 minutes talking about this stuff (though maybe that was my sleep aid kicking in).

Yannetti said they project players 7 years out with their analytics. The higher the pick is, the earlier that impact is seen. He acknowledges there are other ways to do it, but again, pointed out how they do it slower for better or worse.

It can also come much faster than 5 years.

Like with Clarke, he said he was NHL ready last year (contrary to Surf Nutz's assertion). Unfortunately, there was no follow up specifically why he was sent to the CHL, but my complete guess is that decision wasn't his.

With Byfield, they'd like to see more and think it's fair to expect that. But he also feels he's on track, because even if the points aren't there, he's doing the little things right and he's one of the players who best improved Kopitar's line.

It really is worth a listen if you haven't heard it yet. It's a 2-hour episode but I'm sure Yannetti talked for a good 1.5 hours of it. I think a summary or paraphrasing may cause some misunderstandings (all due respect to Schmooley, who did a great job, but barring a typed transcript, there are a lot of factors.

Thanks for remembering my assertion that Clarke would not derive maximum benefit being a frequent scratch of TMac's Kings.
Blake obviously agreed.

I am glad you use my sharp takes as a guide stone.
Feel free to message me if I can offer Mayor or you anymore assistance, from the younger generation of hockey fan that see things differently than you old guys.
I assume the Podcast is on mayorsmanor.com, because I know you are his intern.

I hope Blake does not do anything rash because TMac's contract is up after this season and Blake's after 24/25.
Hopefully he is just gauging the market with Winnepeg, they seem like bad juju and playoff under performers.
PLD's agent say he is looking to Habenate, ASAP.
Vilardi is going to arbitration , the contention being amount of games he plays per season.
Blake said we need to see Gabe healthy more or something like that.
This may keep Gabe's contract down a bit more than expected.

Surf Nutz is like my favorite new poster!

I like Yanetti's and RJ's take on Byfield , he broke out in a role, and the statistics will improve if he is smartly allowed to incubate there.

I read the last article and disagree, with Mayor.
He needs to move out cap and sign Korpi pre FA.
Too much uncertainty to wait for FA bidding wars or taking a redundant Copley level leftovers.

I would like to know what Mayor's take is on which positions they will be most likely to go after with the players in the draft.
With no first, rather than BPA, it would seem they would be looking to fill areas of future need on their positional depth slot charts.
Or maybe they see someone who could contribute on the Kings before TMac and or Blake potentially expire?
Maybe you could get in a brief question when you drop of a scouting report, next time?
Cheers , um I found out I can't use you real name here, today, among other things.

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Sooooo Clarke in the AHL all year then eh

Yes! Thank God!
Because Blake probably keeps Durzi and Clarke and Spence push each other in the AHL.
By keeping Spence in the AHL,, he will be able to extend him next Summer, for a lesser amount.
If Blake is forced to trade Durzi then it's smarter to have Spence up with the Kings to be shopped and/or final evaluation, in front of Clarke.
If Clarke excels , Blake could make moves by the deadline and make a spot for Clarke

 

[Sol]

Truly a weird coincidence that Axl and Surf Nutz started posting the same time while having a couple months of no posting. Weird huh lmao

 

[Rorschach]

Byfield is a perfect piece for Kings as well.

Would you like to trade Kent Johnson to our 1st round pick in 2024?

Only if we go 3 way again with Winnipeg this time.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Kings Rumors: Why Pierre-Luc Dubois Doesn’t Make Sense for Kings

Silly season is starting early this year and the Los Angeles Kings have been tossed into a handful of rumors to kick it off. Monday, I covered the Tom Wilson rumors and today all the hype is surrounding links between the Kings and Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre Luc-Dubois. In the latest episode of...

lahockeynow.com

Another good read for those interested. Think he sums up the whole PLD situation really well.

Easy explanation. Easy pass

 

[FSL KINGS]

Then it's just a lateral move from a guy you've got a lot invested in to a guy who has talked his way out of everything since juniors.

The devil you know vs. the one you don't.

If the cost is Vilardi, the trade isn't very appealing.

Going from Lizotte to PLD would be a massive addition to this team.

Byfield & Stützle don't play well enough defensively to be successful in the playoffs. This could take years for the players to figure out. Adding another center to compete now, with a center spot from an aging Kopi opening in the future has no bearing on Byfield.

Side note
Mcdavid 153 points 82 games
Eichel 66 points 67 games
How did that work out?

 

[johnjm22]

Byfield & Stützle don't play well enough defensively to be successful in the playoffs. This could take years for the players to figure out. Adding another center to compete now, with a center spot from an aging Kopi opening in the future has no bearing on Byfield.

And Dubois is? He sucks ass defensively.

 

[FSL KINGS]

And Dubois is? He sucks ass defensively.

Could always do JT Compher at 6 AAV

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I don’t think PLD is a needle mover on this team. But he’s very much a Blake type of player so it wouldn’t surprise me.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don’t think PLD is a needle mover on this team. But he’s very much a Blake type of player so it wouldn’t surprise me.

It's true, dude would rip a letter off if he could

 

[Little Psycho]

f*** it sign them all…pull a Vegas. You can bet Arvy and Gabe will go on IR

 

[NikF]

Kopitar is a 3rd line C or a 2nd line C (if you have a good defensive #1 or #3) on a championship team at this point of his career. If Byfield exploded into an offensive force and Danault did the heavy defensive lifting, then yes this would be a scary center group. But that obviously isn't going to happen in the right timeline if at all. Their plan (according to Mayor) to play Byfield at wing for another season all but assures that. And the Dubois rumor might indicate that they have all but abandoned the hope of their lottery picks ever achieving much beyond being support players.

 

[YP44]

If the cost is Vilardi, the trade isn't very appealing.

Going from Lizotte to PLD would be a massive addition to this team.

Byfield & Stützle don't play well enough defensively to be successful in the playoffs. This could take years for the players to figure out. Adding another center to compete now, with a center spot from an aging Kopi opening in the future has no bearing on Byfield.

Side note
Mcdavid 153 points 82 games
Eichel 66 points 67 games
How did that work out?

A lot of people in Calgary are pointing out how Eichel has his cup before McDavid. My response is, it's almost like hockey is a team game, and you cannot have one or two guys doing all the lifting.

 

[JKG33]

I was in the minority here saying QB should 100% be expendable for Eichel yet here we are. Eichel is much better than PLD.

I'd still trade QB for PLD. It's looking more and more like I was right about him, and even the QB supporters have gotta admit his ceiling is what PLD is right now.

 

[SmytheKing]

Side note
Mcdavid 153 points 82 games
Eichel 66 points 67 games
How did that work out?

I hope you're not trying to make the argument that if McDavid was on the Knights instead of Eichel that they wouldn't have won the cup this year.

 

[Lt Dan]

A lot of people in Calgary are pointing out how Eichel has his cup before McDavid. My response is, it's almost like hockey is a team game, and you cannot have one or two guys doing all the lifting.

Who woulda thought?
lol

 

[FSL KINGS]

I hope you're not trying to make the argument that if McDavid was on the Knights instead of Eichel that they wouldn't have won the cup this year.

Absolutely no chance Knights win with Mcdavid. Hockey Gods have cursed him. Wonder what 97 did to bring down their wrath.

 

[Lt Dan]

Absolutely no chance Knights win with Mcdavid. Hockey Gods have cursed him. Wonder what 97 did to bring down their wrath.

He put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp
But omitted putting the ram in the rama lama ding dong.

He can never be forgiven

 

[Statto]

I was in the minority here saying QB should 100% be expendable for Eichel yet here we are. Eichel is much better than PLD.

I'd still trade QB for PLD. It's looking more and more like I was right about him, and even the QB supporters have gotta admit his ceiling is what PLD is right now.

No, I don’t.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Dudes honestly, hockey and the stanley cup playoffs specifically are just so unpredictable your best bet is just making the playoffs and crossing your fingers. As Kings fans we should know that better than most given 2012.

Obviously you need to put together a solid team with at least a couple great players but at the end of the day you also need all the stars to align as well.

You need one of your goalies to get hot. Need a couple unsung heroes to step up and have surprisingly incredible playoff runs. Need your team to gel perfectly and get hot as a group.

We want so desperately for there to be some kind of 'perfect winning formula' and to be able to say "oh yeah this team needs to do X, Y, and Z and THEN they'll be ready for a cup" but in reality.... No one freaking knows lol.

There's teams that look absolutely incredible and look built for the playoffs, all that good stuff.... That then immediately lose in the first round. On the flip side there's typically always at least 1-2 teams no one expected anything from that end up winning or at least going on long runs.

It's a crap shoot. You get in, and you hope for the best.

 

[JKG33]

No, I don’t.

Lol what do you think his ceiling is at this point? Cause even being as good as PLD seems like a massive reach at this point

 

[YP44]

I was in the minority here saying QB should 100% be expendable for Eichel yet here we are. Eichel is much better than PLD.

I'd still trade QB for PLD. It's looking more and more like I was right about him, and even the QB supporters have gotta admit his ceiling is what PLD is right now.

I hope QB ceiling is higher than PLD but it maybe less likely he gets there.

 

[KingsFan7824]

A lot of people in Calgary are pointing out how Eichel has his cup before McDavid. My response is, it's almost like hockey is a team game, and you cannot have one or two guys doing all the lifting.

Not in Buffalo though. It's like a Hawks fan saying this about Hull when he went to Dallas.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Dudes honestly, hockey and the stanley cup playoffs specifically are just so unpredictable your best bet is just making the playoffs and crossing your fingers. As Kings fans we should know that better than most given 2012.

Obviously you need to put together a solid team with at least a couple great players but at the end of the day you also need all the stars to align as well.

You need one of your goalies to get hot. Need a couple unsung heroes to step up and have surprisingly incredible playoff runs. Need your team to gel perfectly and get hot as a group.

We want so desperately for there to be some kind of 'perfect winning formula' and to be able to say "oh yeah this team needs to do X, Y, and Z and THEN they'll be ready for a cup" but in reality.... No one freaking knows lol.

There's teams that look absolutely incredible and look built for the playoffs, all that good stuff.... That then immediately lose in the first round. On the flip side there's typically always at least 1-2 teams no one expected anything from that end up winning or at least going on long runs.

It's a crap shoot. You get in, and you hope for the best.

This is such a horrible hockey take, and I wish it would die forever.

The Kings were NOT an average eighth seed in 2012. They were the best team in the league from the moment they acquired Jeff Carter through the end of the season. Anyone who actually paid attention to their underlying statistics knew how good they were.

"Just get into the playoffs and anything can happen" is exactly what teams like Nashville and Minnesota have been doing for years with absolutely nothing to show for it. Florida was the plucky "get in and see" team this season, and what just happened?

Hockey is not all luck and variance. Some of it is, yes. But a lot of it isn't. MOST of it isn't. There are still tried and true methods for building a winning team.

Vegas has been one of the most competitive teams in the league since 2018. They've been to two Cup Finals, three WCFs, and just won their first Cup. They didn't do all that by just trying to sneak into the playoffs every year and hoping for the best.